Lawmakers wrestle with ensuring benefits for state retirees

As the House Capital Investment Committee reviewed higher education bonding requests during a Tuesday morning hearing, one legislative newcomer spoke up to pose a question. Freshman Rep. Jay McNamar, DFL-Elbow Lake, asked whether the projects under consideration had been “bid out” already.

The election of Steve Green marks one of the few bright spots for the Republican Party of Minnesota from the 2012 legislative elections. Facing a fundraising disparity and an uphill battle in terms of name recognition, Green managed to defeat former DFL Rep. Brita Sailer for the open seat in House District 2B.

For most candidates getting past the primary election is merely the first electoral hurdle that must be surmounted prior to joining the Legislature. But for candidates in districts that tilt heavily in favor of either the DFL or GOP, the primary race can effectively serve as the only meaningful contest.

n the four months since legislative maps were released, political strategists and journalists have been scrutinizing the new House and Senate districts to determine which ones favor Republicans or Democrats and where the key battlegrounds will be in 2012.